Salmon industry ‘in the dark’ over future use of Macquarie Harbour while feds decide its fate

A decision on the future of the salmon industry at Macquarie Harbour remains up in the air as the federal Environment Minister weighs her options. The impact uncertainty is having >

Salmon Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin says the industry is in the dark over its future at Macquarie Harbour. Picture: Alastair Bett

The salmon industry and the conservation movement both say they are in the dark about a review into environmental approvals for aquaculture in Macquarie Harbour as the federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek continues to weigh her options.

Ms Plibersek is undertaking the review, which was necessitated by requests from groups including the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) and the Australia Institute, who are concerned about the impact salmon farming is having on the endangered Maugean skate.

The requests asked Ms Plibersek to reconsider approvals granted under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act in 2012 for marine farming expansion in the harbour.

Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

The public consultation period for the review opened in December last year and closed on February 2 this year. The minister is yet to make a decision on the matter.

A Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Department spokeswoman said the department was “currently considering the significant amount of information provided during the consultation period, with over 2500 submissions received”.

“The minister will consider this feedback from interested stakeholders when making a decision on whether salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour requires any further approvals under national environmental law,” she said.

There is no statutory deadline under the EPBC Act for the minister to make a decision. Rather, it is due as soon as practicable.

Salmon Tasmania CEO Luke Martin said the industry had heard “absolutely nothing from the federal government” about the status of the review.

“We are very confident in the science and the conditions on our operations in the harbour. But the longer Minister Plibersek drags this out is only hurting the workers and the communities involved,” he said.

Bob Brown Foundation activists putting a banner up on a salmon pen in Macquarie Harbour. Picture: Supplied.

BBF marine and Antarctica campaigner Alistair Allan said the department’s own conservation advice to the minister in relation to the Maugean skate stated that removing salmon farms from the harbour was “one of the [top] priorities” to ensure the survival of the species.

“I don’t know what the holdup is. She has all that information in front of her,” he said.